Overview
- The White House proclamation issued Monday names May 2026 Jewish American Heritage Month, a tradition observed since 2006, and invites a national Shabbat on May 15–16.
- The observance is tied to the Freedom 250 “Rededicate 250” weekend and asks people to rest and reflect from sundown Friday to nightfall Saturday.
- Multiple outlets report this is the first time a sitting U.S. president has urged a nationwide Shabbat observance.
- The proclamation pairs the call with a vow to confront antisemitism, highlighting prosecutions of hate crimes and actions focused on college campuses.
- Orthodox and national Jewish groups praised the move, and Jewish Insider reported White House outreach to rabbis that credited the idea to the president through an unnamed source.